Fatal crash rekindles old concerns
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer
The New Jersey State Police are still investigating the June 22 head-on collision on Sharon Station Road in Upper Freehold that claimed the life of a Plumsted woman.

Christine M. Squires, 44, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that involved her 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix and a 1989 Mack tanker truck, according to the investigating officer, State Trooper Joseph Sembler, Hamilton Station.

According to a preliminary investigation, the driver of the 1989 Mack truck, Charles Hwilka, 57, of Burlington Township, was traveling north on Sharon Station Road. Squires was traveling south when the head-on collision occurred about 9:54 a.m. near Route 524, causing the truck to overturn. Squires was trapped in her vehicle and was extricated by fire personnel at the scene, according to the state police report. Hwilka was transported to Helen Fuld Medical Center, Trenton, for examination. Assisting at the scene were Hope Fire Company, Allentown First Aid and MONOC paramedics.

Former Mayor William Miscoski said it was an accident that never should have happened. Miscoski, who did not run for re-election for 2008, said that when he was in office, all members of the governing body voted to turn over control of Sharon Station Road to the county. A group called Citizens Advocating Road Safety (CARS) sued him and the Township Committee to prevent a county takeover.

In April 2007, Miscoski said that since he voted in favor of having Monmouth County look into taking over the road, CARS sued him. At the time, he said the president and the board members of the group are attorneys and that none of them would tell him who hired the attorney to take the case. The lawsuit was later dropped.

"Because of this stupid, frivolous lawsuit, [the takeover] didn't get done," he said. "If they hadn't [sued], it would have been done and this woman wouldn't have to die."

Many residents of the Woods at Cream Ridge development off Sharon Station Road, concerned about truck traffic, opposed the transfer of the road to the county. Miscoski said he hoped those residents can't sleep because of Squires' death.

In an Aug. 16, 2007, letter to the editor to the Examiner, CARS attorney Stephen J. Edelstein said, "[T]he lawsuit filed by CARS concerning the transfer of the road to the county is no roadblock to anything except noncompliance with state law. There are specific, formal requirements under the law for actions such as those taken by the council. The suit alleges that they were not followed, plain and simple; however, CARS has not impeded any progress, and it has neither sought nor obtained any preliminary injunctive relief. The [group's] goal is to advance the discussion about creative solutions, not to impede it."

Edelstein noted that a main concern of CARS was to "promote a safe road and a safe neighborhood."

Edelstein noted that he had written a letter "on behalf of CARS to Mayor Fleischacker and the [committee] on Oct. 4, 2006, attempting to initiate a long-lacking dialogue on safety issues related to Sharon Station Road. Among other things in that letter, I wrote: 'Heavy traffic, at high speeds, in a residential area traversed not only by adults, but also by children and school buses creates a dangerous condition.' "

The CARS lawsuit was eventually dropped.

Miscoski said that an eyewitness to the accident told him that Squires swerved her car to avoid a pothole on Sharon Station Road, and then hit the truck, which turned over on her vehicle. He said he would not be surprised if "everybody gets sued" by the victim's family, including the state, county and township, as Sharon Station Road is a connector road.

In February, upon recommendation of Monmouth County Engineer Joseph Ettore, the Board of Chosen Freeholders approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with Upper Freehold to exchange other roads for the portion of Sharon Station Road between Routes 539 and 526. The township will assume jurisdiction of County Route 43, the portion of Davis Station Road between Route 539 and the railroad right of way and County Route 27, as well as the portion of Burlington Path Road between Route 539 and Meirs Road.

Earlier this month, the Township Committee sent a letter to Freeholder Director Barbara McMorrow, referencing a presentation made by Ettore and other members of the county engineering department in December, for a conceptual design proposal for the county's improvements to Sharon Station Road. During the meeting, several residents raised the issue of the proposed westerly bypass around Allentown.

At that time, Ettore responded that the county was asked to hold up on the westerly bypass, and had agreed to complete the easterly bypass and Sharon Station Road improvements before proceeding with the westerly bypass. Ettore indicated that following the completion of these other projects, the data supporting the westerly bypass would be reviewed.

The letter acknowledged that the Sharon Station Road project had been delayed due to the opposition of some residents and to the litigation, which is now over. However, it stated that any effort to obtain a status report on the project has raised issues on the westerly bypass, and it has been stated at meetings that the county is tying the Sharon Station Road improvements to the westerly bypass and would go forward only if the westerly bypass project is secure. All members of the governing body are on record as opposing the westerly bypass, and are reaching out to the freeholders for confirmation that the Sharon Station Road project may proceed without the westerly bypass as part of the deal.

"At least over the last six years, the county never required a quid pro quo of the westerly bypass for Sharon Station Road. We cannot understand why the county would start now, especially considering the dire condition Sharon Station Road is currently in. Moreover, the residents that support the safe re-design have never asked the Township Committee for the westerly by-pass. They want a safe ingress and egress to and from their homes for themselves and school buses," according to the township's letter.

It asks for a reply from the freeholders by the July 9 committee meeting. Ettore did not respond to calls and emails on the issue.

Any witnesses to the June 22 accident are encouraged to call Trooper Sembler at 609-584-5015.